‘Doctor Who – Short Trips: The Man Who Wasn’t There’ reviewed

❉ Never meet your heroes. This is especially true if you just happen to be a time traveller.

Charley Pollard’s innocent request to meet a historical hero seems the easiest thing for a friend with a time and space machine to make happen. But as Charley and the Doctor seek out the Victorian explorer, they uncover a sinister scheme to unravel Earth’s future by affecting its past. But where in its history was the deed done? And is it already too late to put right?

I must admit I didn’t always pay much mind to the ‘Short Trips’ range. I used to be a bit of a ‘full cast’ snob, so these stories just didn’t capture my attention, but that has very recently that has changed. The range has evolved into some of BF’s most essential listens.

With such daring, unique stories in this latest season such as Joe Lidster’s masterful Adric story ‘A Full Life’ , the Third Doctor story narrated by Tim Treloar ‘Damascus’, and one with the Meddling Monk narrating, it’s easy to see the appeal

But now with the return of two Eighth Doctor companions, Charley and Lucie to the fold, it’s party time.

It’s great to hear India returning to the role. This story brought back so many great memories of when I first became acquainted with Big Finish. They had just started the stories with Paul McGann back and they intrigued me to no end….15 years later and I’m still kept on the edge of my seat.

It’s quite a testament to their early days that classic, Yes, classic, Big Finish companions come back and still associate with their roles and that there is an overwhelming desire for them to do so. (Maybe we can get Caroline Morris back as Erimem guys?)

The story concerns the Doctor taking Charley into the past to meet her adventurer hero Pieter Monmarche. Since he has a time machine, it’s not a problem, that is until Monmarche can’t be found anywhere through his supposed history.

It’s an intriguing story that really explores the time travel side of the show.

The cause and effect, going back and creating your own past, paradoxes, et all create such a fascinating story that really is only Charley’s. The Doctor factors very little into the proceedings and I can’t fault that. India Fisher gives the story all she’s got and her different voices for the Doctor, the Time Lord messenger (who I happen to love from ‘Terror of the Autons’) and the other characters are splendidly realised. Even if I didn’t know Charley traveled with the 8th Doctor, I would immediately know which one he was giving her delivery of his dialogue (“Char-leeee.”)